My corner of paradise in Mytilene, by Valentina (Suzanne Level 8)

If you've really got tired of your bustling city, where the streets are always packed and people live like tinned sardines side by side ... come with me and have a pleasing rest in the surprising island of Mytilene! With its amazing seashore and unspoilt landscape, Mytilene is really off the beaten track, lying in the heart of the Aegean Sea, close to the Turkish coastline.

In the tranquil town of Erbessos you'll breathe a sense of history, strolling among the run-down buildings of the old city centre, where delicious mouth-watering aromas spread from the small houses and the old-fashioned restaurants. Come and sit on the dock of the bay in a peaceful atmosphere, gazing at the coloured boats and chatting with the fishermen working at their nets.

Enjoy your stay swimming in the turquoise sea or sailing on a bright blue day, totally plunged in a marvellous scenery rich in natural beauty and diversity. And if you're lucky, you'll see the fabulous exhibition of the lively dolphins playing with the seagulls in the white wake of the ships!

You'll discover an absolutely charming island, ancient Lesbos, which was also the birth place of the famous greek poetess Sappho, born in the VII centuty BC. Come and taste the typical Greek drink named  "ouzo", comfortably sitting in front of the stunning sunset, and forget all your boring problems for a few days!

Our Heroes - L2A

 

Jenny's L2A class made these fantastic glogs to celebrate their favourite heroes.

Click an the links to see their work:

Giulio's Glog
Giulio glogged about the runner Jesse Owens

Alessandro's Glog
Alessandro glogged about the civil rights activist Martin Luther King

Francesca's Glog

Francesca glogged about the shark-bite survivor,surfer Behtany Hamilton
Giulia's Glog

Guilia glogged about the South Africa leader Nelson Mandela

Costanza's and Federica's Glog.

Costanza and Federica glogged about two local Sicilan heroes, judges Falcone and Borsellino


What do you think? Who's your hero?

Welcome to Rhodes! Leopoldo (Suzanne's Level 8)

Welcome to Rhodes, an unspoilt paradise in the Aegean Sea.

Your first impression once you land on this island is to have travelled through time back to the Byzantine period and the Middle Ages. Huge medieval walls surround and contain the little, tranquil and pleasant town of Rhodos, which once was an important hub for the Byzantine empire and a centre for shipbuilding and commerce.

Strolling around the streets you feel surrounded by history. Side by side with the marvellous Byzantine churches, there's the huge Palace of the Grand Master. It was built by the famous order of the Knights Hospitaller which occupied Rhodes in 1309.

Beyond the strong walls which the knights build, the island of Rhodes has an unspoilt and diverse quantity of natural wonders. If you love hiking, in the interior of the island you can gaze at some beautiful mountainous landscapes covered with forests of pines, cypresses and strips of land wherecitrus fruits, graps, vegetables, olives and other crops are grown.

On the other hand, if you want a tranquil holiday at the beach, you will be astanished by the wonders of the island's seaside. Sandy and rocky beaches, most of them off the beaten track, alternate with little fishing towns, where you can taste all the typical foods of Greek cuisine like octopus salad or Moussaka, a pot filled with alternating layers of minced meat and feta cheese.

So if you are curious about the wonders you'll find in Rhodes, come and see with your own eyeys what paradise looks like!

A Perfect Italian Dish - Hania (Jenny's Level 9)

It was a bright sunny day and my classmates and I were going to a friend of ours' place. We were all about seven or eight years old and had been waiting for that day for one week. There was a lot of exitement among all of us because that day we would have lunch at our friend's house. When we all entered in the light blue living room, there was an inviting smell of boiled tomatoes and fresh basil that would make us feel more hungry and made me feel more curious and intringued about what was happening in that fantastic kitchen  full of flavours .

When finally lunch time came, all our eyes were sparkling full of joy  and satisfaction and sitting by that enourmous wooden table my friend's mother served us spaghetti with sauce.
"A very common dish" you would say, but not so much, and particularly, not for me!It's smell was marvellous and the taste as well. It was absolutely delicious and I was completely smitten. It was so well-cooked and the sauce had the best taste I've ever tried. It gave me the idea of something different and fresh.


As I looked at her mother, she felt enthusiastic. Perhaps she really hoped we would  like her spaghetti with sauce, and by the way she had been really nice with us.

It might not have been a real special occasion but I considered it so, because it was the first time I had eaten a perfect and well-cooked Italian dish since I'd always been eating it cooked in a different way. It was one of those days I would never forget because I understood what makes my country so famous all over the world. Every dish, even the most simple one, is just mouthwatering and absolutely delicious.

Childhood Memory by Haider (Jenny's - Level 9)

Childhood memory

The remarkable childhood memory associated with food that I have is linked to my brother’s birthday.I was working like a waiter in my house bringing food and cutlery in the living room for my brother. The house was chaotic, a mess, it was full of life and  little children running everywhere. 

However I can remember that sweet and, at the same time, dense  smell of cake coming from the kitchen, it was a chocolate cake made by my mother.The first thing that I noticed when this dish had hit my tongue is the softness of the cream mixed with the heavy taste of black intense chocolate.

 My mum put all of herself in that cake, it was the first time she had made this kind of dessert. “It is just an experiment” she said. I was astonished by this taste and at the same time proud of my mother that was receiving lots of compliments and appreciations. In addition, the sliced toasted bread contributed in making that dessert, the best one that I have ever had.

Unfortunately, we don’t eat it very often because it is just reserved for special occasions such as birthdays or parties.  Therefore I am just looking forward to birthdays to taste it one more time. I  definitely won't forget that day and that cake!

Haider

A Bittersweet Memory by Sabina (Jenny's Level 9)

This is a bittersweet memory. I was 16 and I was living with my grandmother at that time. My grandfather had passed away the year before. There were the two of us, just me and Grandma Maria, in a huge, cold house in the old town centre.  

Maria was a strong woman from a noble Sicilian family. She was proud and obstinate. She was a fine cook too. There are a lot of family recipes that remind me of her: pasta with sardines, baked swordfish involtini, stuffed artichokes, potato pie, eggplant caponata, glazed chicken…

She used tons of extra-virgin olive oil when cooking, because she had grown up in a large estate cultivated with olive trees, symbol of the aristocratic status and of a glorious past.

That year, right after her beloved husband's death, she went from being an active, independent woman to slowly succumbing to old age. I couldn't realize this because I was just a teenager dealing with the issues of my own age, never-ending homework and first crushes. 

I remember that one day I came home from school. I was skinny and my school bag was heavier than me. After an hour standing at the bus stop on a cold winter day, I was chilled to the bone and starving. Finally at home, the rich smell of broccoli, wafted to my nose. Well, there is a thing with broccoli, either you love it or hate it. I was simply smitten!  My Grandma had cooked one of my favourite dishes, pasta with broccoli soup. Yum!  I'm particularly fond of this soup, so simple yet tasty. There are few ingredients: broccoli, broth, garlic and cut spaghetti, and they combine so well.

I could almost foretaste the crisp tender florets as they gently melted on my tongue and I could feel the warmth pervade throughout my body.

So, imagine my disappointment when I saw something strange on my plate. Floating on the broth surface, just between the drops of olive oil and the grated cheese, there were little insects, or greenflies.

Oh my Gosh. Yuck. That was disgusting. What could I do? Of course I couldn't tell her. She had cooked for me and I really didn't want to hurt her feelings. Or she could have replied something like: "o ti mangi questa minestra o ti butti dalla finestra!" , which basically means "like it or lump it!".

The problem was that my grandmother hadn't cleaned the vegetables accurately because she couldn't see well and maybe the water was too cold for her hands, so she might have rushed this step of the recipe.

So, as I was very hungry, there was nothing else to eat and my Grandma had already eaten half of her pasta, I quickly decided not to say anything. I just tried to rescue the tiny insects with my spoon, and put them aside on a napkin, without making her realize what I was doing. A very clumsy scene! Then I had an idea. I said: "Grandma, I'd like to learn how to cook, you should teach me".

She was excited. From that moment on, I started to wash all the vegetables, and she showed me how to cook them. We made a great cooking team, I may say.

Now, I really love cooking. I cook mostly for my husband, who unfortunately is averse to the very smell of broccoli. Anyway, whenever I can, I cook some pasta with broccoli soup, just for me. It is soft, warm and comfy and it makes me think of my Grandma.

By Sabina  - Jenny's Level 9